1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph. The play takes place in New York, on the Upper East Side. The play involves Amir, a Pakistani - American, his wife Emily, Amir's nephew, Isaac, a museum curator who has a business relationship with Emily, and his wife, Jory. The stasis of the play is the beginning when Emily is simply painting Amir’s picture. Amir is a lawyer expecting to become a partner at the firm, and Emily is a painter who has been inspired by Islam and Islamic art.
2. What is the intrusion? The intrusion is when Abe, Amir’s nephew, comes to him and asks him to defend Imam Fareed who has been accused of funding terrorists. Amir attends the court case after Abe and Emily plead for him to, and Amir ends up being mentioned in an article by the Times concerning the article.
3. What is the unique factor? This is the day Amir starts his journey to realize who he is in light of his religious views and his job status. This day also marks the beginning of the end of his marriage.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play? “Who is Amir?”
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it. Amir knows about his past, but he chooses to explain only some of it. He reveals things to Emily and Abe about his upbringing, and he reveals certain feelings, for example, the pride he felt on 9/11. Also, after Jory and Amir leave the dinner part, and Emily and Isaac are alone, it's revealed that Emily and Isaac had an affair, and that Amir is not going to be made a partner at the firm.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be. The most theatrical moments are when the dinner scene gets very heated, this helps to enhance the importance of the dialogue. Also, when Emily confesses to Amir that she and Isaac had an affair in London and Amir hits Emily repeatedly.
7. List some of the themes of the play. The main theme is identity. Both Amir and Abe struggle with their identity- whether they are Pakistani or American, or both. A second theme is self-disillusionment, and self - acceptance. Amir wants to a true wall street lawyer, and tries to forget his background. In the end, he is beginning to realize who he is in accordance with his background.
8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants? Amir wants a successful career, but society stands in way. He changed his name to sound Indian and not Pakistani. He wants to be more American than Pakistani, but because of how society views him because of the color of his skin, he cannot achieve this. I think also, he stands in his own way. He is not accepting of who he really is, and this causes him to struggle with his sense of self.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play. The image of Emily’s painting is the most obvious image in the play. She painted his picture like this after she saw one of a slave. I think this symbolizes how Amir is like a slave to not only his past, but the present society as well. He cannot forget what his mother taught him, and how now, he is a slave to how society views him. Amir's shirt represents the lifestyle of the upper east side. The characters talk about how expensive it is at the dinner party, demonstrating how well off Amir is and how much he is willing to look the part of the rich Manhattan lawyer. Abe mentions in one of his final lines that “they disgraced us”, meaning all non-Muslims disgraced Muslim people, and that it says in the Quran that Muslims will conquer the world.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play. An important relationship in the play is the relationship between Amir and his mother. Although his mother never makes an appearance in the play, she was a big part of Amir’s past, and she is frequently talked about. When Amir liked a girl in school, but her name was Jewish, his mother taught him to hate jews. His mother symbolizes, I believe, Amir’s relationship with Islam. It was given to him forcefully, and could explain his aversion to it.
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play takes place in New York, on the Upper East Side. The play involves Amir, a Pakistani - American, his wife Emily, Amir's nephew, Isaac, a museum curator who has a business relationship with Emily, and his wife, Jory. The stasis of the play is the beginning when Emily is simply painting Amir’s picture. Amir is a lawyer expecting to become a partner at the firm, and Emily is a painter who has been inspired by Islam and Islamic art.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is when Abe, Amir’s nephew, comes to him and asks him to defend Imam Fareed who has been accused of funding terrorists. Amir attends the court case after Abe and Emily plead for him to, and Amir ends up being mentioned in an article by the Times concerning the article.
3. What is the unique factor?
This is the day Amir starts his journey to realize who he is in light of his religious views and his job status. This day also marks the beginning of the end of his marriage.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
“Who is Amir?”
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
Amir knows about his past, but he chooses to explain only some of it. He reveals things to Emily and Abe about his upbringing, and he reveals certain feelings, for example, the pride he felt on 9/11.
Also, after Jory and Amir leave the dinner part, and Emily and Isaac are alone, it's revealed that Emily and Isaac had an affair, and that Amir is not going to be made a partner at the firm.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moments are when the dinner scene gets very heated, this helps to enhance the importance of the dialogue. Also, when Emily confesses to Amir that she and Isaac had an affair in London and Amir hits Emily repeatedly.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
The main theme is identity. Both Amir and Abe struggle with their identity- whether they are Pakistani or American, or both. A second theme is self-disillusionment, and self - acceptance. Amir wants to a true wall street lawyer, and tries to forget his background. In the end, he is beginning to realize who he is in accordance with his background.
8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants?
Amir wants a successful career, but society stands in way. He changed his name to sound Indian and not Pakistani. He wants to be more American than Pakistani, but because of how society views him because of the color of his skin, he cannot achieve this. I think also, he stands in his own way. He is not accepting of who he really is, and this causes him to struggle with his sense of self.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The image of Emily’s painting is the most obvious image in the play. She painted his picture like this after she saw one of a slave. I think this symbolizes how Amir is like a slave to not only his past, but the present society as well. He cannot forget what his mother taught him, and how now, he is a slave to how society views him.
Amir's shirt represents the lifestyle of the upper east side. The characters talk about how expensive it is at the dinner party, demonstrating how well off Amir is and how much he is willing to look the part of the rich Manhattan lawyer.
Abe mentions in one of his final lines that “they disgraced us”, meaning all non-Muslims disgraced Muslim people, and that it says in the Quran that Muslims will conquer the world.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
An important relationship in the play is the relationship between Amir and his mother. Although his mother never makes an appearance in the play, she was a big part of Amir’s past, and she is frequently talked about. When Amir liked a girl in school, but her name was Jewish, his mother taught him to hate jews. His mother symbolizes, I believe, Amir’s relationship with Islam. It was given to him forcefully, and could explain his aversion to it.